These days, people own more appliances than ever — yet know less than ever about repairing them. You could benefit from learning a few basic appliance repair skills. Knowing how to handle simple repairs can save you significant time and money. You won’t have to call a repairman, and you’ll extend the life of your appliance. Many appliance repair skills are easy and do not require specialized tools. Here are five appliance repair skills you should learn that will make your life easier.
Washing Machine Repair
With regular maintenance, your washing machine can last many years. Over time, you may notice that you have less water filling the washing machine’s drum. There is an inlet screen in many washing machines. If you have hard, mineral-rich water, your screen can clog, and it will take longer and longer for your washing machine to fill to the proper level. If you no longer have the owner’s manual, Google how to locate the inlet screen if you are unsure. Clean the screen and replace it.
If you have attempted to repair or replace the screen and the valve, you may need help. Big appliances like washing machines can cost a lot of money. For more complex repairs, consider hiring a home warranty company. You may not have the time or ability to determine what’s wrong with your valuable appliances. The problem could also be more extensive than your ability.
Sometimes, washing machine failure and other appliance problems are caused by electrical issues. So, it’s crucial to determine if your electrical systems are working in good condition or not. You can hire a qualified and experienced electrician for this job. They can provide expert advice on the repair and replacement of your electrical fixtures to ensure they remain in tiptop condition, as well as ensuring your home’s overall electrical safety.
If you need to buy a new electric circuit breaker, voltage fuse, or switch for your home, you can source electrical products and solutions to run your appliance in brick-and-mortar stores or online. Online stores such as Baypower.com and other reputable suppliers offer these products.
Garbage Disposal 101
There are different ways to dispose of your garbage, such as batch feed disposal and continuous garbage disposal. You can activate the batch feed garbage disposal by placing the cover over the drain opening. On the other hand, continuous garbage disposal has a switch to turn the appliance on and off.
Garbage disposals can last a long time but often break down before their time due to misuse. But that’s no call for the garbage disposal to start spitting garbage back at you when you run it. If you’ve checked the area where the blades are, and you didn’t find any foreign debris, then you may need to replace the splash guard. It’s cheap, and you can get the part from a home improvement store.
Use a stack of books or small cuts of lumber to support the garbage disposal while you work. You will only need these, a screwdriver, and the splash guard from the store. Make sure you unplug the disposal or flip the circuit breaker off. Use the screwdriver to pop the disposal out. Once you remove the old splash guard and put in the new one, bring the disposal up, so you can get it back into the locking ring.
For your safety, never work with the power to the garbage disposal on. In addition, it’s always essential to check the power of the switch by using a voltage tester when you unplug the unit. By doing so, you can safely assess the potential issue of the disposal, such as a faulty or tripped breaker or ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), which is much faster if it’s an electrical problem.
Fridge Frustration
When your fridge malfunctions, you risk losing all the food you paid for. Prevent losing all your groceries, and keep your fridge going strong by replacing the worn gaskets. Over time, as you and your family open and shut the doors to the refrigerator and freezer, the gasket wears down and does not create a good seal to prevent the exchange of cold and warm air. It is very important to check the pressure and maintain the same accordingly
A quick trip to the home improvement store will get you the supplies you need. Before you head there, note the make and model of your refrigerator, so you can match it to the correct type of gasket. You may want to double-check the store has the type you need before heading out. Put the new gasket in warm water to make it more pliable while you remove the old gasket. You may need a hex head nut driver to remove the old gasket. Install the new gasket and make adjustments before tightening the screws completely.
Stove Savvy
If you have an electric stove with a burner that won’t heat, don’t just live with it. You can fix this easily. First, determine whether the burner is bad by exchanging it with another burner. If it still doesn’t heat up, it could be a bad socket or switch. To fix either of these, unplug your stove first for safety. Check for scorch marks around the burner socket. You can pick up a socket or switch at the home improvement store, and changing them out takes little time. A simple electrical tester will help you determine if the switch is faulty or not.
Oven Love
Maybe your oven is still working great, but you can’t see through the oven door. You’ve cleaned the outside and the part facing the oven itself, but it is still cloudy inside the glass. Gather your usual oven cleaning products and a 4-in-1 screwdriver. If you don’t have the owner’s manual for your oven, google how to unlock the hinges, so you can lift the door off. Make sure you keep track of where the screws and glass hold downs are. Then carefully lift the glass layer off, so you can clean between.
Be Your Own Pro
You can take care of simple maintenance and repairs on your appliances with a little know-how and elbow grease. Many of the most common issues are simple fixes. By learning how to repair your appliances, you’ll save a ton of money. Not only will you extend the life of the appliance, but you’ll also save on handyman costs. You can do it!
